Kenneth Ellsworth Thompson, 87, formerly of Franklin Street in Slippery Rock, died at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grove Manor Nursing Home, Grove City, after a two-week illness.

Born in Branchton, Aug. 25, 1918, he was the son of Elmer Ellsworth Thompson and Martha Loretta Dickson.

During World World War II, he served in Army Company A, 132nd Ordnance Maintenance Battalion.

He retired in 1984 from Cooper Bessemer, later called Cooper Energy, in Grove City, where he assembled engines on the erection floor

Mr. Thompson was a member of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church. He also belonged to the Slippery Rock V.F.W. and was a former member of the Boyers Sportsmen's Club.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. John (Patricia) Jones of West Hills, Calif.; two sons, David E. Thompson of Girard, Erie County, and Samuel W. Thompson and his wife, Robin, of Slippery Rock; and seven grandchildren, Jacob, Brady, Michael, Nathan and Erin Elizabeth Thompson and Don and Ken Ozkilkis.

His wife, Clara Margaret Cooper Thompson, whom he married Nov. 22, 1947, died Jan. 4, 2003. He also was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Buchanan and Pauline Thompson, and a brother: Charles.

<B>THOMPSON </B>— Friends of Kenneth Ellsworth Thompson, who died Thursday, June 15, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Lewis, pastor of the Branchton United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Slippery Rock Cemetery